Target and elastically adjustably tethered projectile



June 13, 1967 G. H. WOLPERT, JR 3,325,167

TARGET AND ELASTICALLY ADJUSTABLY TETHERED PROJECTILE Filed June 22, 1966 INVENT OR GEORGE H. WOLFE/e7: L/R.

'II/IIIIIIIIIlY/flI/(IS/i/t/IIII/IIIIIJ v ATTORNEY WMWW United States Patent O 3,325,167 TARGET AND ELASTICALLY ADJUSTABLY TETHERED PROJECTILE George H. Wolpert, Jr., Columbia, Pa., assignor to Wolpert Associates, Inc., Columbia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 22, 1966, Ser. No. 559,537 Claims. (Cl. 273--98) This invention relates generally to improvements in game apparatus and more particularly to improvement in the type of game apparatus which involves skill in the manipulation of a hand held racket having a ball tethered thereto by an elastic band.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of game apparatus including a racket having a head portion provided with a passageway therethrough, a ball being suspended intermediate an elastic band which is attached to the racket and spans the passageway thereof, and which tests the skill of the player as to manipulation of the racket to see how many times the player can continuously reciprocate the ball back and forth the passageway of the racket.

A further object is the provision of game apparatus of the class described wherein the elastic band spanning the passageway of the racket is extensible and retractable, and wherein the ball is movably mounted on the elastic band for centering along the length thereof spanning the passageway of the racket in testing the skill of the player in manipulation of the racket to see how many times the player can continuously reciprocate the ball back and forth through the passageway of the racket with various lengths of elastic band.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a portion of this specification, and in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the racket of the invention, the ball and elastic band thereof being shown in dot and dash lines.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of my improved game apparatus, the ball and elastic band thereof being shown in full lines in one position of reciprocation, and in dot and dash lines in the opposite position of reciprocation, such positions of reciprocation being an example of those which may be attained in continuous reciprocation of the ball back and forth through the passageway of the racket.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a modified form of the invention, the ball and elastic band thereof being shown in dot and dash lines.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate the racket as shown in FIGS. 1-3; B the elastic band thereof; C the ball thereof; and D the racket as shown in FIG. 4.

Racket A preferably comprises an elongated substantially paddle-like body portion including a playing head portion 11 and a handle portion 12. Playing head portion 11 preferably comprises a loop-shaped portion having a circular passageway 13 and rim 14. One side of rim 14 is preferably provided with an opening 15 adjacent passageway 13 and the opposite side thereof provided with a pair of openings 16 and 17. Openings 16 and 17 are adjacent one another and are disposed diametrically opposite opening 15. Openings 16 and 17 com- 3,325,167 Patented June 13, 1967 prise means for attaching one end elastic band B to playing head portion 11, as will be subsequently described.

Elastic band B preferably comprises an elongated band 20 of rubber or the like and which has a relatively high degree of elongation upon application of extending forces thereto and will retract to substantially its original length upon relaxation of such extending forces.

Ball C preferably comprises a conventional rubber or plastic ball having a substantially spherical body portion 22, the diameter of the same being smaller than the diameter of circular passageway 13 so that the same will readily interfit through circular passageway 13. A diametric opening 25 is provided through ball body portion 22. Opening 25 is preferably of sufiicient diameter so that elastic band 20 will freely slide therethrough, for a purpose to be subsequently described.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end of elastic band 20 is preferably provided with a knot 26 and the band is threaded through openings 17 and 16, and through opening 25 of ball C, thence across circular passageway 13 of racket A, is threaded through opening 15, and is removably attached to handle 12 by wrapping the same about handle 12 as at 27.

Of course elastic band 20 could be attached through only one opening 16 or 17, or stapled in place, but I have found that an interlaced relationship provides a more secure attachment in relieving the tendency of the stretched band to tighten and reduce the size of knot 26 so that it will pull through the attachment provided.

Opening 25 of ball C is of sufiicient diameter for free movement of ball C back and forth along the length of elastic band 20 spanning passageway 13 so that ball C may find its own center along the length of elastic band .20 which spans passageway 13. Ball C may thus assume a balanced relationship on elastic band 20 for reciprocation back and forth through passageway 13.

In playing of the game, the length of elastic band 20 spanning passageway 13 is preferably sutlicient to allow ball C to hang free 2 /2 to 3 inches below passageway 13 when the racket is held horizontally. The racket may then be manipulated by the player, horizontally, vertically or otherwise, the object of the game being to see how many times the player can continuously reciprocate ball C back and forth through passageway 13 without hitting rim 14. After the player has acquired skill with a relatively short length of elastic band 20 spanning passageway 13, an additional length of elastic ban-d 20 may be unwrapped from handle 12 and pulled through opening 15 to increase the length of elastic band 20 which will span passageway 13. Ball C, since it is free to seek its own center on the length of elastic band 20 which spans passageway 13, will slide along elastic band 20 to provide a balanced relationship so that the player may then test his skill at manipulating the racket to continuously reciprocate ball C back and forth through passageway 15 on the lengthened elastic band 20 which now spans circular passageway 13. It is obvious that as the length of elastic band 20 spanning passageway 13 is increased, the degree of skill required to continuously reciprocate ball C back and forth through passageway 13 is increased. The length of elastic band 20 spanning circular passageway 13 may thus be lengthened or shortened, according to the skill of the player.

Racket D is substantially identical to racket A except that the head portion thereof, instead of being in the shape of a closed loop, is open in the nature of a slingshot. Insofar as practicable identical reference characters with a prime exponent have been applied to the parts of racket D which are identical to those of racket A.

Racket D preferably comprises an elongated substantially paddle-like portion 10' including a playing head portion 11' and a handle portion 12. Playing head portion 11' preferably includes a pair of side members 30 and 31 having a passageway 32 therebetween. Side member 30 is preferably provided with an opening 15 adjacent passageway 32 and side member 31 is provided with a pair of openings 16' and 17'. Openings 16 and 17' are adjacent one another and are disposed diametrically across passageway 32 opposite opening 15'.

An elastic band B and ball C identical to those previously described may be used in association with racket D.

In attachment of elastic band B to racket D, elastic band 20 is attached at one end thereof through openings 16' and 17, extending across passageway 32, through opening 15' and is removably attached to handle 12 by wrapping the same thereabout as at 27 Ball C is mounted upon elastic band B of racket D in the same manner as previously described in connection with mounting of the same on racket A.

When playing a game with racket D, the same is manipulated and played in the same manner as previously described in connection with racket A.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of a racket having a handle portion and a playing head portion, a ball, and an elongated elastic band for attachment of said ball to said rocket, said playing head portion of said racket including a ball passageway aperture of an area substantially greater than the diameter of said ball, attaching means for securing said elastic band to said head portion adjacent diametrically opposed edges of said passageway in juxtaposition so that said elastic band spans said passageway, said elastic band being considerably longer than is necessary for spanning said passageway, at least one of said attaching means comprising securing means manipulative to secure said elastic band to said head portion at a predetermined point intermediate said ball and one end of said band and to selectively release said band from securement at such predetermined intermediate point and permit feeding of said elastic band therethrough and securement thereby at another point intermediate said ball and one end of said band in varying the length of said elastic band spanning said passageway, and means for attaching said ball to said elastic band substantially intermediate the portion thereof spanning said passageway, said elastic band being attached to said head portion and said ball being attached to said elastic band in a juxtaposed substantially balanced relationship for reciprocation of said ball back and forth through said passageway upon the skillful manipulation of said racket. I

2. Game apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises first means for fixedly securing one end of said elastic band to said head portion at one side of said passageway and second means for removably securing said elastic band to said head portion at the other side of said passageway, said head portion being provided with an opening adjacent said passageway at the diametrically opposite side thereof from said first means of said attaching means, said elastic band extending from said first means of said attaching means, across said passageway and through the opening of said head portion, and the other end thereof being removably attached to said racket by wrapping the same about said handle portion, said passing of said elastic band through the opening of said head portion and wrapping of the same about the handle portion comprising said second means of said attaching means.

3. Game apparatus as specified in claim 2 wherein said' ball is provided with a diametric opening therethrough and said elastic band is slidably threaded therethrough for substantial centering of said ball along the length of said elastic band spanning said passageway.

4. Game apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said ball is provided with a diametric opening therethrough and said elastic band is slidably threaded therethrough for substantial centering of said ball along the length of said elastic band spanning said passageway.

5. Game apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said playing head portion is in the nature of a slingshot having a pair of spaced apart side members defining said ball passageway through said playing head portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,066,799 1/1937 Reynolds 27397 2,105,379 1/1938 Smith 27398 FOREIGN PATENTS 628,203 11/ 1961 Italy.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, M. R. PAGE,

Assistqnl Examiners, 

1. IN A GAME APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION OF A RACKET HAVING A HANDLE PORTION AND A PLAYING HEAD PORTION, A BALL, AND AN ELONGATED ELASTIC BAND FOR ATTACHMENT OF SAID BALL TO SAID ROCKET, SAID PLAYING HEAD PORTION OF SAID RACKET INCLUDING A BALL PASSAGEWAY APERTURE OF AN AREA SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID BALL, ATTACHING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID ELASTIC BAND TO SAID HEAD PORTION ADJACENT DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED EDGES OF SAID PASSAGEWAY IN JUXTAPOSITION SO THAT SAID ELASTIC BAND SPANS AND PASSAGEWAY, SAID ELASTIC BAND BEING CONSIDERABLY LONGER THAN IS NECESSARY FOR SPANNING SAID PASSAGEWAY, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ATTACHING MEANS COMPRISING SECURING MEANS MANIPULATIVE TO SECURE SAID ELASTIC BAND TO SAID HEAD PORTION AT A PREDETERMINED POINT INTERMEDIATE SAID BALL AND ONE END OF SAID BAND AND TO SELECTIVELY RELEASE SAID BAND FROM SECUREMENT AT SUCH PREDETERMINED INTERMEDIATE POINT AND PERMIT FEEDING OF SAID ELASTIC BAND THERETHROUGH AND SECUREMENT THEREBY AT ANOTHER POINT INTERMEDIATE SAID BALL AND ONE END OF SAID BAND IN VARYING THE LENGTH OF SAID ELASTIC BAND SPANNING SAID PASSAGEWAY, AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID BALL TO SAID ELASTIC BAND SUBSTANTIALLY INTERMEDIATE THE PORTION THEREOF SPANNING SAID PASSAGEWAY, SAID ELASTIC BAND BEING ATTACHED TO SAID HEAD PORTION AND SAID BALL BEING ATTACHED TO SAID ELASTIC BAND IN A JUXTAPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY BALANCED RELATIONSHIP FOR RECIPROCATION OF SAID BALL BACK AND FORTH THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY UPON THE SKILLFUL MANIPULATION OF SAID RACKET. 